Support for electric lamps



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' A. L. IDE.

SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS. No. 278,797. Patented June 5,1883.

mm nu m CMW 1 (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. L. IDE.

SUPPORT 303 ELECTRIC LAMPS. No. 278,797. Patented June 5,1883.

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. SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

No. 278,797. Patented June 5,1883.

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I/CI' 'IJI FE E N. PEIEns. PmtwLilho n har. Washington. D. a

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALBERT L. IDE, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,797, dated June 5, 1883.

= A pplication filed September 22, 1881.

ing devices above the streets of cities and towns, with a view to a wider and more uniform dissemination of the light along the streets and a more equal distribution thereof to adj acent buildings.

To these ends the invention consists, primarily, in the combination, with a support located at oneside of the street, of a long counterbalanced arm or boom pivoted to said support, and laterally projecting therefrom over the street and sustaining the lamp from its free extremity, together with means for swinging the arm or boom upon its pivoted connection for the purpose of bringing the lamp into convenient reach for adjustment, &c., and for elevating and securing it in proper position.

It further consists in certain features of con.- struction whereby the various objects of the invention are better attained, as will be hereinafter-more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved lamp-support. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lamp detached. Fig. 3 is a view of the boom and support, showing more clearly a preferred mode of attachment for the wires through which the lamp is operated. Fig. l is a plan view of a section of a town or city, which indicates the arrangement of electric lamps contemplated in my invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lamp-support provided with means for swinging the boom and lamp laterally into convenient reach from a window of an adjacent building. Fig. 6 is a detail view, showing more clearly the manner of connecting the boom with the upright when it is desired to give to the boom both a lateral and vertical movement, andalso showing alternative devices for hoisting, lowering, and

Renewed April 12,1883. (No model.)

securing the boom. Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of the upright, illustrating more clearly the manner of connecting the boom therewith when it is desired that the latter shall have the complex movement described.

A is a tall post or upright, set preferably just inside the outer edge of the walk. v

B is a boom or long arm pivotally connected with the upright A at an elevated point, and laterally projecting ()VQI the street when in use.

B is a shorter arm, continuous with B, extending on the opposite side of the post A, or over the walk, and intended to support a suitable counter-balance, O.

D is an electric lamp suspended from the outer extremity of the arm B.

D D are the wires through which the lamp D is operated.

E is a rod by which the boom is raised and lowered and locked in place.

The boom B may be of any'required length. \Vhen located at street intersections said boom will project diagonally, or toward the central point of street intersection; but when located between street corners it will project at right angles with the curb. As here shown, said boom is of wood for nearly its entire length, the extension B being of iron and rigidly secured to B at a point outside the post A, being divided to embrace the post A and allow free vertical swing to the boom on its pivoted connection with the post. Upon the arm B is placed the heavy iron ball C, which serves as a counter-balance to the boom B, with its lamp and fixtures. For the purpose of adjustment, said ball is arranged to slide on the arm B, and is provided with a set screw, 0, or other suitable means whereby it may be secured at a proper point on the arm.

As a means for swinging the counterbalanced boom, and thus raising andlowering the lamp D, the rod E is provided. Said rod is preferably jointed at e, and the longer portion there of arranged to slide vertically beneath staples or guides e c on the post A, the upper short arm, E, being pivoted to the arm B at a dis tance from the post A, as shown. The rod E is also shown as being jointed at 6 giving a lower section, E", which, being slotted, may operate like a hasp to set over the fixed staple .0 and thus allow the boom to be looked in its elevated position by a padlock or other suitable fastening, F. Phe rod E, without the joint at e may be slotted, as stated, and used with a yielding eye as, for example, an eye fastened to a spring or to a spring actuated plate let into the post for the same purpose.

At its outer extremity the boom is provided with a cross-piece, B, from which project hooks b, which engage rings (1 on the top of the lamp D. Thus, having two points of attachment, the lamp is held from rotation, while it ,preserves a perpendicular position when lowered, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 1.

In order that the wires D D, through which the lamp is electrically operated, may be held practically taut while extending to the lamp, arranged to swing, as stated, said wires are connected at or near the axis of the boom. For the purpose of giving such attachment, projections B are provided, which may be'the ends of the pivotpin on which the boom turns, or may be fixed at apoint over or near to said axis. The wires may lead up or down the post; but in any case, being attached at B and made substantially taut at the side of the boom, they do not in any manner interfere with the movement of the boom, and are equally safe from injury in all positions of the -latter.

The operation of the devices described is obvious. \Vhen it is desired to adjust or manipulate the lamp, the rod E is freed from its fastening and raised, which tilts the lamp downward into easy reach from the street, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. The counterbalance O, being accurately adjusted, renders this movement easy, even though the weight of the parts moved be considerable.

WVhile I' prefer the jointed rod E E as a means of swinging the boom, I do not wish to be restricted thereto, since cords or chains E may be variably trained to accomplish the same end, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Nor do I wish to limit myself to the vertical movement of the boom, since said boom may be connected with the post by means of a collar, A, so as to swing laterally or horizontally to bring the lamp into reach from the window of an adjacent building, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7; or, if preferred, theboom may be pivoted by a horizontal axis to such a collar, so as to swing both horizontally and vertically, whereby when the lamp is lowered it may swing downward obliquely, or it may swing first laterally and then vertically to the curb, where it will form 110 obstruction to travel in the street or walk, and will encounter no injury therefrom. IVhen the boom is arranged to swing to a neighboring window, of course the operating cords or rods IE will be there connected or secured, as seen in Fig. 5.

The upright A may be a bracket supported from an adjacent building, and other forms of counter-balance may be employed without departure from my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a means for suspending a lamp over the carriage-way of a street, the combination, with the upright A, located at the side of the street, of the horizontal counterbalancedboom B, pivoted to the upright, and means for lowering and raising the end bearing the lamp and for securing the boomin its normal horizontal position, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the post A and vertically-swinging boom B, supporting the lamp and counterbalanced, as described, the vertically-sliding rod E E and the eye 6, together arranged, and operating substantially as described.

3. In an electric-lamp support for streets, the combination, with the boom 13, pivoted at an elevated point to a suitable support, and bearing the lamp at its free end, as shown,-

the wires D D, attached at the axis of the boom, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In the electric-lamp support described, the swinging boom B, provided with the crosspiece 13, pivotally connected with the lamp, whereby the latter is held from lateral rotation, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' ALBERT L. IDE. 'I/Vitnesses:

M. E. Daxrox, Jnssn Cox, Jr. 

